MONTREAL — Montreal police have launched raids against illegal cannabis stores opened one day earlier by the self-proclaimed “Prince of Pot,” Marc Emery, and his wife, Jodie.

Emery and his wife were among 10 people arrested in Friday’s raids. Police said that all but one person, who refused to sign the release documents, were released on a promise to appear in court.

Canada is moving to legalize marijuana, but it remains illegal.

Marc Emery was extradited in 2010 to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to selling marijuana seeds to American clients from his Vancouver-based store and was sentenced to five years in prison. After spending just over four years behind bars, he was released early in August 2014 on good behavior and flown from a facility in Louisiana to Detroit, before crossing the border into Windsor, Ontario.

He has become a prominent advocate for marijuana legalization in North America.

Jodie Emery tweeted on Saturday about her arrest saying, “I was arrested at our hotel in Montreal last night, released hours later with no charges. Under investigation. My first time in handcuffs!”


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